US-China strategic talks get test this week

BEIJING (AP) — The United States and China will spend time over the next couple of days testing whether their annual “Strategic and Economic Dialogue” can produce tough compromises or just serve as a venue to talk about greater cooperation.

The Obama administration comes with a clear set of priorities to this year’s meeting in the Chinese capital.

They include closer coordination against climate change, an end to Chinese industrial cyber-espionage and stricter rules governing maritime claims in Asia’s contested, resource-rich seas.

But it’s unclear whether Washington will be able to forge an effective agreement with Beijing in any of these areas. China distrusts U.S. intentions and sees Washington encroaching in its internal and regional affairs.